the false promises of influencers

They all made the same promise: to get rich in a few clicks. Their names are Laurent Billionaire, Marc Blata or Julien Bert, are followed by millions of people and have produced numerous videos to convince their subscribers to invest in very risky financial products. This is called copy trading.

The mirage of copy trading

Child’s play at first glance: it would be enough to invest a sum of money, then “copy” the financial positions sent by these influencers.

Except that some subscribers will bet too much and lose everything. Every year, thousands of French people are fooled, some losing tens of thousands of euros in the adventure.

Complaints for fraud and breach of trust

Mathieu Robert investigated these influencers. He went to Dubai to meet the little financial geniuses who hide behind this business of formidable efficiency and dizzying returns. In a few months, they can earn millions of euros on the backs of subscribers. Several complaints have been filed against Marc Blata for fraud and breach of trust.

Network marketing or fraudulent system?

Other smart guys have become pyramid builders. They are followed on social networks by tens of thousands of people, fill concert halls and galvanize crowds by providing them with personal development advice. For a subscription of 80 to 150 euros per month, those who become members have access to online training on trading or food supplements. This is called network marketing or MLM (multi level marketing).

This is the window. In reality, it is a pyramid sales company, based on the recruitment of new members, who themselves will start recruiting. A very large majority of the members of the pyramid earn nothing and pay for the few who get rich. Elise Lucet interviewed one of those who set up this fraudulent system.

Betting, an addiction?

Thanks to social networks, another phenomenon has exploded, online sports betting. In France, 4 million people bet each year, that’s four times more than ten years ago and with the Euro football tournament, stakes could break records this summer. The amount of money lost by players reached 1.4 billion euros in 2022. An industry whose business model is largely based on addiction. According to the Games Observatory, 39% of the sector’s turnover is attributable to excessive players.

An investigation by Mathieu Robert.

> THE GREAT DEBATE

After this new issue of “Cash Investigation”, the magazine is offering a major debate. Guests from all walks of life, sector players, political leaders, experts, answer Elise Lucet’s questions.

“Cash Investigation”: revelations, a debate, solutions.

> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the Franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), “Magazines” section.